The Space Shuttle, the world's first partially reusable launch vehicle, first flew on 12 April 1981 and has been used for all America's manned space missions ever since. This third Space Shuttle test flight, carrying astronauts Jack Lousma and Charles Fullerton in the Orbiter Columbia, was launched on 22nd March 1982 and spent eight days in orbit. The Crawler Transporter, carrying the Shuttle on its mobile launch platform, moving into position on Launch Pad 39A on its way to 'hard down', or final position, at the Kennedy Space Centre, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Science & Society Picture Library/SSPL via Getty Images Show More Show Less Columbia was the first of the Shuttle fleet to fly, and successfully completed 28 missions before being lost, together with its crew of seven, on re-entry over Texas on 1st February 2003. The Space Shuttle, the world's first partially reusable launch vehicle, first flew on 12th April 1981 and has been used for all America's manned space missions ever since. As the air gets thicker, the aerodynamic controls become effective and the Orbiter glides down to a landing. The engines are fired, slowing the craft until it falls to Earth. In order to descend to earth the Shuttle is turned so that its orbital manoeuvring system (OMS) engines point in the direction of travel. Science & Society Picture Library/SSPL via Getty Images Show More Show Less 92 of102 Columbia successfully completed 28 missions before being lost, together with its crew of seven, on re-entry over Texas on 1st February 2003. The Space Shuttle, the world's first partially reusable launch vehicle, has been used for all America's manned space missions ever since. Columbia orbited 36 times before landing safely back on Earth. The first manned Shuttle, Columbia, crewed by Robert Crippen and John Young, was launched from the Kennedy Space Centre, Cape Canaveral, Florida, on 12th April 1981.
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